Are centipedes dangerous? For most people, no. The house centipede you find in a bathroom or basement can bite, but it rarely does, and the bite feels like a bee or wasp sting that fades in a day or two. No centipede in Virginia, Maryland, or DC is strong enough to kill a healthy person.
I’m George Schulz, a licensed technician at Better Termite & Pest Control, our family business in Alexandria. Centipede calls come in all year, and the first question is almost always “Is this thing going to hurt my kids?” Here’s the straight answer, plus the few cases where a bite does need a doctor.
- Do centipedes bite? Yes, but only when trapped against skin. Bites on people are rare.
- Can a centipede kill you? Almost never. U.S. species aren’t toxic enough to kill adults or kids. The rare deaths on record involve allergic reactions or unusual bites.
- Are they poisonous? They’re venomous, not poisonous. The venom is injected through two front claws.
- Do they spread disease? No.
- Seeing them a lot? That points to damp spots or other bugs in the house, not danger.
Can a Centipede Kill You?
A centipede can’t kill a healthy adult or child in the United States. Clemson Cooperative Extension puts it plainly: bites from U.S. centipedes are not toxic enough to be deadly to adults or children. It compares a bite to a wasp sting and says it’s generally harmless unless you’re very allergic to venom.
That doesn’t mean zero risk. A death count does exist, and it’s tiny.
The StatPearls review of centipede envenomation (NCBI Bookshelf) notes one U.S. study that linked six deaths to centipede bites from 1979 to 2001. The cause of those deaths was never confirmed. Over the same years, bees, wasps, and hornets were linked to 1,060 deaths. The few well-documented deaths worldwide involved an allergic reaction, a bite in the throat that caused swelling, and a child bitten on the head.
The National Capital Poison Center adds that deaths are very rare and have happened mainly in tropical areas outside the U.S. Those cases involve big Scolopendra centipedes, not the house centipede.
So the real danger isn’t the venom. It’s a severe allergic reaction, and that’s rare. If someone has trouble breathing after any bite or sting, call 911.
Are Centipedes Poisonous or Venomous?
Centipedes are venomous, not poisonous. The difference matters:
- Venomous means the animal injects a toxin. A centipede does this with forcipules, a pair of front legs shaped like hollow claws.
- Poisonous means the animal is toxic if you eat or touch it. Centipedes aren’t.
Their venom is made to stop insects and spiders. In people it mostly causes pain, redness, and swelling at the bite. If you mixed them up with millipedes, those are a different story. Millipedes don’t bite at all. Some ooze a defensive fluid instead, which we cover in are millipedes poisonous.
How Dangerous Are Different Centipede Species?
The type of centipede you find matters. Most are harmless to people. A few large ones can give a nasty bite.
House Centipedes: The Most Common Indoor Species
The house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) is what most homeowners see. It’s yellowish-gray with 15 pairs of long, banded legs. The body is only 1 to 1.5 inches long, but the legs make it look 3 to 4 inches. Penn State Extension calls house centipedes harmless and says they’re of little concern beyond how they look.
They rarely bite people. When they do, it’s because one got trapped against skin, like when you put on a shoe it crawled into.
Outdoor Centipedes in Virginia and Maryland
Outside, under mulch, logs, and stones, you’re more likely to find eastern red centipedes (1 to 3 inches, reddish-orange) and small brown stone centipedes. Clemson notes that many smaller centipedes have jaws too weak to break human skin. The larger red ones can bite if you pick them up, and it hurts about like a bee sting. Wear gloves when you move firewood or pull mulch.
Giant Centipedes: A Different Story
Larger species like the giant desert centipede of the Southwest give much more painful bites. They grow about 6 to 8 inches long and will defend themselves. They don’t live wild in Virginia, Maryland, or DC.
Not sure what kind of centipede you found? Upload a photo and our AI tool will help you identify it.
If you’re seeing centipedes inside often, something in the house is drawing them. We can help you find it.
Do Centipedes Bite?
Yes, centipedes bite, but bites on people are uncommon. Technically it’s closer to a pinch. They grab with their front claws and inject venom, rather than biting with jaws.
Why Bites Are Rare
Centipedes would rather run than fight. The National Capital Poison Center calls them mild-mannered and says bites are usually defensive. A centipede that’s trapped against your skin may leave small pinpricks.
For a bite to happen, a few things usually line up:
- The centipede is trapped, often inside clothing, a shoe, or bedding
- You press on it or grab it
- It’s big enough to get through human skin
What Happens If a Centipede Crawls on You?
Usually nothing. A centipede running across your foot is trying to get away. Brush it off instead of slapping it. Pinning it against your skin is how most bites happen.
What a Centipede Bite Feels Like
You’ll feel sharp pain right away, a lot like a bee or wasp sting. MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, lists the usual signs:
- Pain at the bite
- Redness and swelling around it
- Two tiny puncture marks (from the two claws)
- Rarely, numbness or swollen lymph nodes
MedlinePlus says symptoms usually last less than 48 hours. Some swelling and tenderness can come and go for up to three weeks.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Bites are mild for most healthy adults. A few groups should take more care.
Children
Clemson says U.S. centipede bites aren’t strong enough to kill children either. Kids are more likely to pick up or poke at one, though, and a bite will hurt them just as much. Teach them to leave centipedes alone and tell an adult.
People with Allergies
Some people are allergic to centipede venom. MedlinePlus lists these signs of a whole-body reaction:
- Trouble breathing
- Rapid heartbeat
- Swelling of the throat or mouth
The Poison Center adds hives and dizziness to that list.
Pets
Dogs and cats chase centipedes and sometimes try to eat them. That’s how they get bitten, usually on the lips, mouth, or paws. Small pets feel it more. Call your vet if you see swelling, drooling, or pawing at the mouth.
First Aid for Centipede Bites
These steps come from MedlinePlus and the National Capital Poison Center. For any question about a bite, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. It’s free, private, and open 24 hours a day.
Clean the Bite
Wash the area with soap and water. MedlinePlus says not to use alcohol on it.
Use Cold or Warm Water
Wrap ice in a clean cloth and apply it 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. The Poison Center notes that a warm-water soak can also help, since the venom breaks down with heat.
Ease the Pain
An over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen is usually enough.
Check Your Tetanus Shot
A bite is a small puncture wound. The Poison Center suggests making sure your tetanus shot is current within the last 10 years.
Watch for Reactions
Keep an eye on the bite over the next two days. Get help for any allergy signs, and see a doctor if it looks infected.
When to See a Doctor
Contact a healthcare provider if:
- Redness or swelling spreads, or you see red streaks from the bite
- You get a fever
- The wound has pus or smells bad
- Pain gets worse instead of better after two days
The Poison Center notes that antibiotics aren’t needed unless the bite shows signs of infection.
Is a House Centipede Good or Bad to Have?
One centipede in the bathroom isn’t a bad thing on its own. House centipedes hunt other bugs. Penn State Extension lists silverfish, cockroaches, spiders, and carpet beetle larvae as prey. They also don’t chew wood, eat food, or damage anything.
The bad sign is seeing them often. Centipedes follow food and moisture. A steady stream of them usually means a damp basement or crawl space, or another bug problem they’re feeding on. You can read more in what attracts centipedes.
Daren, one of our registered technicians, says that with centipedes it’s almost always a moisture issue. The worst centipede house he ever dealt with had waterproofing problems that kept the inside damp. A dehumidifier and some moisture-absorbing bags cut the centipede numbers by about half within a month.
That’s why he often suggests a dehumidifier before any chemical. If a home has centipedes and moisture isn’t the cause, he looks for the bugs they came in hunting. He also sees more centipede calls in the fall and winter, when they move indoors.
If you want them gone, start with moisture and the bugs they eat. Our step-by-step guide on how to get rid of centipedes covers dehumidifiers, sealing gaps, and treatment options.
When to Call a Professional
A centipede here and there doesn’t need a pro. Call when:
- You see centipedes several times a week
- They show up in more than one part of the house
- They keep coming back after you’ve dried things out
- You suspect another pest is feeding them
At Better Termite & Pest Control, we’ve served the DC metro area for over 58 years. We treat the centipedes you see and the pests that bring them in.
What Professional Treatment Includes
Our pest protection plan (three visits per year) targets centipedes and their prey through:
- A thorough 78-point inspection
- Perimeter treatments with products we trust and use in our own homes
- Interior treatments in key hiding spots
- Moisture checks and tips for your home
- Free callbacks between visits if pests come back
Are Centipedes Dangerous? The Bottom Line
For most people, no. House centipedes rarely bite, the bite is about like a bee sting, and they don’t spread disease. No U.S. centipede is strong enough to kill a healthy adult or child. The one real emergency is an allergic reaction, so know the signs and call 911 if you see them.
If you keep seeing centipedes, treat it as a clue. Dry out the damp spots and deal with the bugs they’re hunting.
Have questions about centipedes or other pests? Call us at 703-683-2000 or email info@bettertermite.com. We’re a third-generation, family-owned business with over 1,800 reviews. We help homeowners across Virginia, Maryland, and DC.
